The recent shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, shares disturbing similarities with the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in Michigan.
In both incidents, the teenage shooters received their firearms as Christmas gifts from their parents.
In Oxford, officials were aware of concerning drawings made by the 15-year-old shooter, which included messages like the thoughts won’t stop, help me and blood everywhere. In the Georgia case, authorities had previously interviewed the 13-year-old suspect about threats to commit a school shooting, but the officer noted the teen assured him there were no threats.
Linda Watson, whose son Aiden survived the Oxford shooting, expressed her heartbreak, saying, My heart breaks for the whole community because it feels like it’s on repeat from what happened to us.
James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of the Oxford shooter, were convicted of involuntary manslaughter in early 2024 and are now in prison. In Georgia, 54-year-old Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old accused shooter, faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, second-degree murder, and cruelty to children. His son has also been charged with murder.
Buck Myre, whose son Tate was killed in the Oxford shooting, questioned if the tragedy in Winder could have been prevented by applying lessons from Oxford. Myre and other Oxford parents have criticized school officials for not taking more decisive action, including not searching the shooter’s backpack, which was noted as heavy but never examined.
An independent report by Guidepost Solutions found that while the shooter was responsible for the murder, the Oxford school district failed to keep students safe and secure on the day of the shooting. The report criticized the district for denying responsibility and shifting blame.
Myre expressed frustration with the lack of change and accountability, saying, Nobody recognized the Guidepost report, so there hasn’t been any real change. He emphasized that while the shooter and his parents are accountable, the system’s failure to act on warning signs remains a significant issue.
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